Edexcel (B) Biology A-level

3.3 - Biodiversity
Flashcards

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What is biodiversity?

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What is biodiversity?

The variety of living organisms. It can be

assessed at different levels; within a
habitat at the species level (index of
diversity) or within a species at the
genetic level (variety of alleles).
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How do you calculate index of
diversity (d)?

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How do you calculate index of diversity (d)?

N= total number of
organisms of all species.
n= total number of
Σ = sum of organisms of each species.

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What is an allele?

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What is an allele?

Different forms of a particular gene,

found at the same locus (position) on a
chromosome. A single gene could have
many alleles.

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How does a species’ variety of alleles
relate to biodiversity?

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How does a species’ variety of alleles relate to
biodiversity?
Within a species, all organisms have the
same gene pool. However each organisms
will have a different combination of alleles. A
wider variety of alleles within a species
increases diversity.
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Give reasons why we should maintain
biodiversity.

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Give reasons why we should maintain biodiversity.

● More stable, resilient populations

● Ecotourism opportunities
● Provide sources of medicine
● Stabilise soils
● Increase the gene pool
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Define conservation.

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Define conservation.

The protection and management of

species and habitats, in order to maintain
biodiversity. Can be in-situ (in an
organism’s habitat) or ex-situ (outside an
organism’s habitat).
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Give examples of in-situ conservation.

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Give examples of in-situ conservation.

● Protected habitats e.g. National Parks that

protect the species there from depletion.
● Education programmes that teach people
about the importance of biodiversity.

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Give advantages and disadvantages of
in-situ conservation.

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Give advantages and disadvantages of in-situ
conservation.

+ Protects more than one species,

cheap, few resources required.
- Hard to enforce legislation,
populations may still decline.
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Give examples of ex-situ conservation.

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Give examples of ex-situ conservation.
● Zoos where endangered species can be
carefully bred to increase genetic diversity
and prevent inbreeding.
● Seed banks store seeds carefully to keep
them viable, to prevent certain species from
going extinct.
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Give advantages and disadvantages of
in-situ conservation.

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Give advantages and disadvantages of ex-situ
conservation.

+ Requires little space, eliminates

predators and poachers.
- Expensive, can’t fully recreate natural
habitat, disease spreads quickly.
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